Hook-and-ladder turn-table truck for fire departments



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l. G. M. KIM. HOOK AND LADDER TURN TABLE TRUCK EOE. PIRE DEPARTMENTS. No. 443,096.

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G. M. KIM.

EOOK AND LADDER TURN TABLE-TRUCK EUR TIRE DEPARTMENTS. No. 443,096.

Patented Deo. 2,3, 1890.

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G. M. KIM. ROOK' AND LADDRR TURN TARLR TRUCK TDR TIRE DEPARTMENTS. No.1448,096. Patented Deo. 23,1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE..A

GEORGE MARTIN KIM, OF ALLTCGIIENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOOK-ND-LADDER TURN-TABLE TRUCK FOR FlRE DEPARTMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,096, dated December 23, 1890.

Application filed `February 2S, 1890. Serial No. 342,163. (No model.)

To afZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE MARTIN KIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hook-and-Laglder Turn-Table Trucks for Fire Departments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in iire apparatus, and has for its object to provide simple and efficient means for quickly raising or lowering a ladder, for sustaining one or more ladders in any desired elevated or lowered positions on the main ladder, and to provide for changing the position of such additional ladders on the main ladder with ease and expedition.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the combination of devices and con struction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated the same in the accompanyin g drawings,formingapart of this speci- Iication, in whichw Figure lis a side elevation of my improved fire apparatus. Fig; 2 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the main and one auxiliary ladder and illust-rates the means for securing such auxiliary ladder in any desired position on the main ladder. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism for raising the ladder. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of a part of the apparatus, showing the rear axle and means for supporting a series of ladders under the main ladder. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the breaking mechanism of the apparatus. Fig. 61s a detail View of the device for securing the rounds of the main ladder to the sides thereof. Figs. '7 and 8 are detail views of the main frame of the Inachine. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the apparatus, showing the ladders elevated and partially rotated. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the platform provided for firemen to stand upon while the apparatus is going to or from a fire. Fig.1l is an end elevation of the hoisting mechanism. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the Ineans for holding the rear turn-table for the apparatus' in a iixed and stationary position. Fig. 13 is a detail view of a portion of the front turn-table partially turned on its pivot. Fig. 14 is a detail view of the clip used to secure the braces of Y the main frame to such frame. Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the rear guiding-wheel and the seat for the person operating such Wheel. Fig. 1G :is a side elevation of the seat shown in plan in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is an end View of theseat shown in Fig. 16 when the same is swung into a position outside of the main ladder, so as not to interfere With the hoisting of the saine. Fig. 18 is an end elevation of the frame B', and showing the mechanism for raising the ladder. Fig. 19. is a side elevation of aportion of the extension-ladder, showing means -for preventing lateral or sidewise displacement of the sliding ladder on the pivoted ladder. Fig. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view through the ladder shown in Fig. 1). means for connecting the channel-irons of the truck-body to the bent supporting-bar A4.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the iigures, referring to Which- A designates the main :traine of the apparatus, which is composed of channeled irons, as shown in Figs. 7 and S, which are suitably secured together. Near the rear of the apparatus the bars of the main frame are bent upward a short distance in order to pass over the rear wheels A2. The main france is supported on the rear axle of the apparatus by suitable leaf-springs and on the front axle by suitable springs and an ordinary fifthwheel.

On the main frame over the front axle is suitably secured a turn-table Z, and on this turn-table is secured a frame consisting of two longitudinal pieces L, which at their front ends are attached to uprights L on either end of a cross-piece L2. The uprights L are provided near their upper ends with suitable openings to receive a shaft or pins for pivotally connecting the lower end of the main ladder to Ithe front table Z. At the rear end of each of the bars L is secured a vertical Fig. 20 is a detailed View showing the IOO standard or housing C, in which are journaled two shafts II Il, said shafts being journaled at their inner ends in bearings h2, suitably secured in a frame B', (see Fig. 3,) which frame is journaled on the rods II at either end. The shaft II at one end of the frame B is journaled in a bearing h'1 cn one face of said frame, while the other shaft II at the opposite end of the frame is likewise journaled in another bearing on the opposite face of the frame l. In view, however, of causing the shafts II to serve as the fulera for the frame B', as heretofore described, I may pivot said frame directly to the housings or standards G on separate shafts or pivots, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and by full lines in Fig. 1l. The upper face of the frame I3 is provided with two recesses in which the sides of the main ladder rest. .Iournaled in the frame I3,in bearings b" b", are two rods B, which are screw-threaded at their outer ends and fora considerable portion of their length, and on said shafts I3 near their lower ends are attached gear-wheels t1.

Iithin the frame I3', near the center of the lower side thereof, is suitably secured a flat wheel b5, provided on the upper surface at its periphery with a series of gear-teeth, with which mesh the gearwvheels 7f3, which are secured on the shaft II II near the inner ends thereof. The wheel Z13 is provided with upwardly-extending arms which support an open centered rim or wheel b2, which is raised by said arms above the plane of the wheel Zf, the geared periphery of which meshes with the gear-wheels b. .lo the outer ends of the shaft II II are suitably attached handles 7L for rotatin g said shafts and the intermeshin g gears.

The threaded rods B pass through threaded boxes g, rigidly attached to the sides of the main ladder, and said rods are provided with a housing l; made in sections adapted to telescope one within another and to protect the rods B from dampness and prevent the threads becoming clogged with dirt.

C designates the sides of the main ladder, which sides are enlarged at their lower ends and pivoted to the standards I. of the front turn-table, (see Fig. 1,) as hereinbefore described. lhe sides of the ladder are preferably made of angle-iron, as shown in Fig. 2, and to the sides are secured metallic bearings c for the rounds c. To the sides of the ladder are also secured, by means of suitable braces C4, hollow railings C, which are provided at both ends with couplings Cf", to which hose may be attached for the purpose of conveying water to a height to be discharged into a burning building.

C2 designates an auxiliary ladder which rests on the main ladder and is adapted to be raised and lowered thereon as occasion requires.

The sliding auxiliary ladder C2 is prevented from lateral or sidewise displacement on the main ladderC by means of the plates or irons C'" and the bars C, which carry depending lugs. The plates or irons C5 are fixed interiorly to the main ladder C at suitable intervals along the length thereof and they extend or project slightly above or iush with the sides of the main ladder, and the transverse retaining-strips CG are fixed to the upper ends of these plates or irons across the auxiliary ladder, said retainer bars or strips carrying depending lugs C7, which contact with the sides of the auxiliary ladder C2 to prevent lateral and sidewise displacement of the ladder C2 on the main ladder C. To one of the rounds of this auxil iary ladder C?, which round is journaled to rock or oseillate, is centrally secured an angle-lever cli", to either end of which is attached one end of a cord C3, which passes through depending hangers eG on the rounds above and below the one to which the angle-lever cI5 is attached, and then up over the top of a sheave upon the top of the main ladder, Fig. 19, and down and arounda drum Cw. (ShowninFig-9.) Totheoscillatinground of the ladder C?, to which the angle-lever C15 is secu red, is attached depending locking-arms c3, which are provided at their lower ends with curved recesses c, adapted to take or tit over the rounds of the main ladder for the purpose of holding the auxiliary ladder at any desired position on said main ladder. The round of the auxiliary ladder which carries the angle-lever c* is loosely journaled in the sides of said ladder, as heretofore described, so as to be capable of a rocking movement thereon.

To the main frame A is secured bysuitable braces a the usual platform A, on which the firemen stand while going to or returning from a fire. This platform A is made hollow and provided with a suitable cover, and this forms a convenient place for carrying tools and implements useful to the firemen.

C5 designates a hand-rail by which the iiremen steady themselves on the platform A.

In Figs. t and 2O of the drawings I have shown the means for supporting the end of truck on the rear turn-table, by which the necessary movement of the rear axle is permitted. Across the upper section of the turntable E is arranged a transverse supportingbar A, the ends of which are bent down to form the right-angled arms ai, which are arranged exteriorly of the bent rear angle A, and on these right-angled arms d'1 of the transverse supporting-barA are secured the springs A, which are attached in any suitable manner to the longitudinal beams A, which constitute the truck-body, as is obvious, whereby the necessary turning of the rear turntable E and the rear axle Bis permitted without interfering with the frame or the supporting-bar A4.

To the main frame of the apparatus, at suitable intervals apart, are suitably secured frames a2, provided with a series of rests, on which extra ladders a a are carried.

To the rear axle of the apparatus is suitably securcd a turn-table E, consisting of two IOO IIO

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sections, the upper section of which is of greater diameter than the lower section, and is provided on its under outer edge with a series of teeth d10. (See Figs. 1 and 20.) The two sections of this turn-table are held in a fixed and stationary position by the device illust-rated in Fig. 12, referring to which e designates a su pport,substantially of the form shown, suit-ably secured to the main body of the truck, and to one end of this support is pivoted a treadle or lever E', provided at one end with a foot-rest and at the other end with a pin e2, which passes through a suitable opening in the two sections of the turn-table and keeps the same in a fixed and stationary position.

d8 designates a short shaft suitably journaled on the truck and carrying at either' end a gear-wheel d4 d, the latter wheel meshing with cogs d10 on the under side of the upper section of the turn-table E. Vith the gearwheel d* meshes a similar wheel d3, carried bym the lower end of a vertical rod d2. The upper end of the rod d2 fits in a socket in the lower end of a tiller-shaft D', which carries the tiller-wheel d at its upper end. To the tiller-shaft D', at a point intermediate of the tiller-wheel and the point where said shaft connects with the rod d2, is attached one end of a horizontal arm D3, which at its other end is broadened out to form the base of the seat D. This seatD is pivoted at one side to arod (Z7, suitably secured at both ends in upright standards d", attached at their lower ends to the main frame of the apparatus by a pivot d5. This seat is adapted, when the tillerl wheel d and the shaft D are slightly elevated to break the connection between the shaft D and the `rod d2, to be turned or swung down into the position illustrated in Fig. 17, in order that it may present no obstruction to the elevation of the ladder.

Fig. 13 illustrates the device for holding the front turn-table in a fixed and stationary position when the ladder is elevated, refer ring to which P designates a shoe provided with pins L3, which Work in suitable aper` tures in the cross-bar L2, tothe outer ends of which the main ladder is pivotally connected, and P designates a screw for adjusting the bar L2 with relation to the shoe P', so that the shoe can be forced down upon the periphery of one of the front wheels A2 when the axle of said front wheels is turned in line with the axis of the truck, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

I will now proceed to describe my improved braking mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, in which K designates a tread-le or lever pivoted at the forward end of the apparatus and provided at one end with a foot-rest and at the other with a hook engaging with one end of a chain, to the other end of which chain is connected one end of an angle-lever kt, which is secured on ashaft k3, suitably journaled in the main frame. To the other end of the lever 7J* is attached a rod 7J", connected at its rear end with one end'of a short lever k7, pivoted centrally by a kingbolt k6. To the other end of this lever k7 is attached a rod los, suitably connected at its other end to a shaft k1", which carries at one or at both of its ends a brake-shoe k12, adapted to contact with one or both of the front wheels of the apparatus.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When it is desired to elevate the main ladder, the tiller-wheel d and its shaft D are slightly elevated to break the connection between the rod d2 and shaft D', and the seat and filler-wheel are then swung down at one side and out of the main path of the ladder, as shown in Fig. 17. The handles 7L are ro tated, and they in turn rotate the shafts H, which in turn rotate the intermediate gears h3 b2 h and the screw-rods B, which rods work in the boxes g on the sides of the main lad der and raise or elevate the same, and when the main ladder is lowered the frame B is caused to turn on its pivots and the said ladder is received in the recesses of the side of the frame B', so that the ladder when at rest is supported partially by said frame B. is then connected to the lower end of the railing C', and another section of hose is connected to the upper end, so that water can be turned on a burning structure from any elevation, and at the same time the ladder can be used to enable persons to enter and leave a burning building, as may be desired. Should the main ladder not reach as high as is necessary or desirable, the auxiliary ladder C2 can be raised, which is accomplished by turning the windlass in one direction, so as to cause the rope C3 to pull upon the upper end of the angle-lever c, and the strain upon the rope draws upon this lever to pull or force the upper arm thereof into line with the upper portion of the rope, thereby rocking the oscillating round and throwing the locking-arins and lower arm of said angledever outwardly at an angle to the ladder. The auxiliary ladder can then be raised to any desired height by turning the windlass and without interference from the locking-arms, and when the ladder has reached the desired elevation, the locking-arms are thrown into engagement with one of the rounds of the main ladder in the following manner: With the auxiliary ladder suspended by the rope connected to the upper arm of the angle-lever and the ladder raised so that the lockingarms are a short distance above the round of the main ladder that it is desired to engage said locking-arms with, an attendant at the base of the ladder grasps the rope above the windlass, which rope is connected to the lower arm of the angle-lever, and as the attendant pulls downwardly and inwardly on said rope the windlass is turned backward to allow the auxiliary ladder to drop somewhat, and as the upper rope is pliable and as the upper and lower ropes pass through the guides C6 the lever 015 will be turned sufficiently with the slight dropping Hose lOO

of the ladder to permit the locking-arms to engage the desired round and thus hold the auxiliary ladder in its raised position. To lower the auxiliary ladder on the main ladder, the Windlass must be turned sufficiently to raise the auxiliary ladder slightly-about six inches, more or less-and as the Weight of the ladder is upon the upper rope the anglelever will be turned by the Weight of said ladder to again rock the round an d thus throw the locking-arms out of thepaths of the rounds on the main ladder. As the Weight of the auxiliary ladder is sustained by the upper rope and the angle-lever, the locking-arms will be held out of the paths ot the rounds of the main ladder, and said auxiliary ladder is adapted to descend by gravity on the main ladder, the Windlass being turned proportionately by the rope C as the sliding' ladder descends When the apparatus is in motion and it is desired to turn a corner, the front turn-table and forward axle are of course turned by the pole to which the horses are attached, and the rear axle is turned by the helmsmen rotating the tiller-Wheel d, which in turn causes the rotation of the gear-wheels (Z3, (Z4, and d, and as this latter wheel meshes with the teeth on the underside ot the upper section ot the rear turn-table E the latter is caused to turn, and therefore the rear axle is turned.

Changes in the forni and proportion of parts can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a tire apparatus, the combi11ation,With a pivoted ladder, ofa horizontal pivoted frame separate from the main ladder and connected thereto to turn with said ladder as it is raised or lowered, a single master-gear journaled centrally Within said frame, the elevatingscrews journaled in said frame and geared to said master-gear and operating in suitable boxes on the ladder, and the power-shafts, also journaled in the pivoted frame and geared to the master-gear, substantially as described.

2. In a tire apparatus, the combination, with a pivoted ladder, of a horizontal supportingframe separate from the ladder and connected thereto, said trame being supported on trunnions or pivots separate from the pivots of the ladder, the elevating-screws both journaled in the said frame and operating in threaded boxes on the ladder, a single mastergear journaled in the frame and geared to both elevating-screws, and the power-shafts, also journaled in said supporting-frame and geared to the master-gear for rotating the same, substantially as described.

3. In a tire apparatus, the combination of a front turn-table having longitudinal bars I. rigid therewith, the ladder pivoted to the front ends of said bars, the upright standards rigid with the rear ends of said bars, the power-shafts operating in the latter, a frame fitted on said shafts and having the same journaled therein, the elevating-screws, also jou rnalcd in the frame, and gearing intermediate of the power-shafts, and the elevatingscrews for operating` the ladder, substantially as described.

4. In a tiro apparatus, the combination of a turn-table having the longitudinal bars rigid therewith, a ladder pivoted to the front ends of said bars, the uprightstandards secured to the rear ends of said bars, the supportingbars connected to the ladder, the elevatingscrews journaled in said frame and Working in threaded boxes on theladder,and the powershafts jou rnaled in the frame and geared with the elevating-screws to rotate the same simultaneously, substantially as described.

5. In a iire apparatus, the combination, with a main ladder, of an auxiliary ladder having one of its rounds supported to rock or oseillate, the angle-lever secured centrally to said rocking round,the notched locking-arms rigid with the rocking round and adapted to engage one of the rounds on the main ladder, and the cords secured to opposite ends of the angle-lever, one cord extending below the lever and the other cord extending above the lever to or near the top ot' the ladder, and thence down the ladder, as and for the purpose described.

G. In a re apparatus, the combination, with a main ladder, ot an auxiliary ladder having the rocking or oscillating round, the anglelever c, secured centrally to said rocking round, the depending notched arms c3, rigid with the rocking round, the cord-hangers c, arranged above and below the angle-lever, and the cords c3, passing through the cordguides and connected to opposite ends of the angle-lever, substantially as described.

7. In a tiro apparatus, a ladder-rack arranged beneath the main ladder, and consisting of the rigid standards a on the main frame of the truck and cross-bars a2, secured to and braced by the said frame of the truck, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEO. MARTIN KIM.

\\'itnesses:

JOHN Il. CRATTY, CHARLES P. WALKER. 

